diff --git a/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/create_topic.ts b/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/create_topic.ts
index 138788aae0e..cb68f4a5d80 100644
--- a/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/create_topic.ts
+++ b/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/create_topic.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export async function __createTopic(
     true,
   );
 
-  const isAdmin = validateOwner({
+  const isAdmin = await validateOwner({
     models: this.models,
     user,
     // @ts-expect-error StrictNullChecks
diff --git a/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/delete_topic.ts b/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/delete_topic.ts
index 62036d720ec..7545369a2c8 100644
--- a/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/delete_topic.ts
+++ b/packages/commonwealth/server/controllers/server_topics_methods/delete_topic.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export async function __deleteTopic(
     throw new AppError(Errors.TopicNotFound);
   }
 
-  const isAdmin = validateOwner({
+  const isAdmin = await validateOwner({
     models: this.models,
     user,
     communityId: topic.community_id,
diff --git a/packages/commonwealth/test/unit/server_controllers/server_topics_controller.spec.ts b/packages/commonwealth/test/unit/server_controllers/server_topics_controller.spec.ts
index e1a60385504..957627cfa4a 100644
--- a/packages/commonwealth/test/unit/server_controllers/server_topics_controller.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/commonwealth/test/unit/server_controllers/server_topics_controller.spec.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ const createMockedTopicsController = (isAdmin: boolean = false) => {
 
 describe('ServerTopicsController', () => {
   test('#createTopic', async () => {
-    const { controller, user, chain } = createMockedTopicsController();
+    const { controller, user, chain } = createMockedTopicsController(true);
     const [topic] = await Promise.all(
       await controller.createTopic({
         user,
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ describe('ServerTopicsController', () => {
   });
 
   test('#deleteTopic', async () => {
-    const { controller, user } = createMockedTopicsController();
+    const { controller, user } = createMockedTopicsController(true);
     await controller.deleteTopic({
       user,
       topicId: 1,